Posts Tagged ‘reviews’

Ipsy May 2014: Fresh Picks review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
1

Ok, Ipsy is back in my good graces with this one. I love the cute little bag and the products are some of the better fits for me. I’d use all but one! I didn’t peek at all this month, so everything was a complete surprise and I am quite pleased. Yay for feeling excited about a bag again!

Ipsy is $10 per glam bag and comes with 5 or so beauty/skincare products. Bags are sent monthly with no option to skip. There’s usually a waitlist to get the subscription. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free products.

ipsy may 2014 bag items with card including derma e microdermabrasion scrub, hang ten classic sport spf 50, eva nyc therapy session hair mask, olive lips refreshing rosemary lip balm, and pacifica mineral eyeshadow duo in moonbeam and unicorn

derma e microdermabrasion scrub – Ooo! I had no idea this would be back in circulation and I’m so glad it is because I love it. I didn’t get this the last time it was offered and I actually wanted it so bad I got it in a trade, but I’m perfectly happy receiving it and having another one to use. I love the citrus scent, the little scrubby beads, and the creamy texture. I have been made a big fan of derma e and I look forward to trying some of their other products when I finally use up my current skincare items.

Hang Ten Classic Sport SPF 50 – The packaging on this is cute and retro. I’m liking the neon look, which totally reminds me of LA and summer. It’s the more liquidy type of sunscreen and it doesn’t smell like sunscreen when I first put it on, but as I rub it in I get a little more of that scent that reminds me of childhood summers. After rubbing it in, it’s a little sticky and gives my skin a little sheen to it. This is perfect to bring in my bag or leave in the car so I can apply it whenever.

eva nyc therapy session hair mask – I like the light scent of this and I’m definitely appreciating the size of the tube! It’s really refreshing to receive an item that isn’t your usual beauty product, since I’m really up to my neck in lotions, cleansers, soaps, creams, etc. A hair mask on the other hand, is just what I need to add to my collection! This is a very rich, creamy formula that is like a thicker conditioner. I can’t wait to try it out!

Olive Lips Refreshing Rosemary Moisturizing Lip Balm – Oh wow, olive and rosemary? How wonderfully different from other lip balms. I’m not super into the scent, but it’s not bad either. This is super moisturizing to keep those lips from drying out. I find the little tube to be great; it’s adorable and a better fit for the size of my lips. I like keeping a tube in just about every place I might be for awhile, so I could always use another one to place in one of my many spots.

Pacifica Mineral Eyeshadow Duo in Moonbeam & Unicorn – I’m tempted to try this out because they’re just beautiful. You can’t tell from the picture, but the left half (moonbeam, I presume) is this deep purple and the right half (unicorn, then?) is a gorgeous white with gold flecks! Totally fun and just the kind of shades I like. But alas, I just don’t use eyeshadow, so should I just trade it instead? I might have to sit on this awhile. I mean, everyone loves Pacifica so I’m sure I can trade it off, but maybe I should just give it a go myself.

I think in general the theme this month really offered itself to types of products I like more. I’d love to see this trend continue, with fresh products that aren’t the typical boring makeup stuff. If you want to trade for any of my items, check out my eDivv shop.

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this bag and wanted to share what I got!]

Beauty Box 5 May 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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I was wondering what happened to my April review when I realized it was the 24ClearIt kit. Speaking of which, it started to dry out my jaw area so I stopped washing with it as regularly. Overall it’s done ok with my skin so far and calmed it down a bit, but breakouts just can’t be quelled it seems. As for the May Beauty Box 5, the theme is fresh and focused, which is meant to help with some pick-me-ups.

Beauty Box 5 is $12 per box (or as discounted as $99 for an entire year, with an option in between) and comes with 5 cosmetic products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. You also have the option of buying it as a gift your box to a friend. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards products or boxes.

may 2014 beauty box 5 contents

Is it finally time for summer?! What a refreshing collection.

beauty box 5 may 2014 information card

Info on the products with prices of their full sizes.

MaskerAide Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask: I’m a big fan of sheet masks, though they are rather pricey so I don’t use them that often. This one is suuuuuper moisturizing and just oozing with healing ingredients. I’m glad I read the instructions because I probably wouldn’t have cleansed and toned my face before using it otherwise. This is the only mask I’ve tried to date that actually fit my face! I have a pretty wide one so the eye holes are often too close together and the corners of my eyes get covered a bit, but not with this one! Amazing. It says to leave on for 10-20 minutes and after 10 I was itching to take it off. I can only take so much relaxation! There was a ton of serum on my face afterwards, so I rubbed it in, rinsed off a bit, and also put some on my neck.

H2O Plus Aqualibrium Marine Cleansing Gel: I couldn’t tell what this was for at first. I thought it might be some sort of eye gel, but turns out it’s a cleanser. It came out almost goopy, but smoothed out just fine. I didn’t smell any sort of scent to it and it was very nice and soothing. I do wish the sample size was larger since I feel like I can only get a few face washes out of this tube. I can’t really tell if it’s better than any other cleanser, but I do like this brand overall so I’d consider getting this product.

Ban Total Refresh Cooling Body Cloths: What perfect timing for these little cloths, which will be a very useful way to refresh the body during the heat of summer. I’d definitely keep some of these in my purse/bag/car or wherever to have them on the go. I was super surprised to find they had a bit of an alcoholic smell when you first open them. I guess it helps kill off bacteria? My skin feels great after the wipe-down and the powder finish is amazingly smooth without feeling like there’s powder on you (just the way I like it). It was moist enough to get my whole body, yet not dripping wet so there was no mess. If I ever work out during work hours, I’m totally using these to freshen up with.

Harvey Prince Hello: Never been much of a perfume gal, but this truly is a warm, happy scent. With such playful packaging, I was totally intrigued. Then I saw the citrus and floral choices and I knew this would be something I could enjoy. The little card is sweet and explains the choice of Meyer lemon, mandarin, grapefruit, forsythia, and plumeria beautifully. I’m liking this brand already!

Cattiva Precision Eye Liner: I was skeptical, but this eyeliner really delivered. Waterproof? Indeed! And such a smooth, easy application it’s hard to mess up. It doesn’t smudge even with my clumsy hands, so I’ll definitely keep this handy for the few occasions I do use a little eye liner. I like the retractable design so I don’t have to worry about using a sharpener. I’ve never heard of this brand before, but consider me impressed.

Ok, so I have to admit when I first got the box I was like, whatever, decent box. But now that I’ve tried them I am truly impressed. Not only did I underestimate some of the products, I wouldn’t even have given them a chance had I not wanted to provide a more thorough review for this post. Turns out I’ve been introduced to some really great items that I’ll keep in my arsenal. What’s your favorite item this month?

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Fabletics Portico Outfit (Aventura poncho + Salar legging + headband) review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
1

It had been awhile since I’d gotten Fabletics so I decided to take a look. I knew I was interested in some sort of outerwear, like a casual sweatshirt. When I came across, the Aventura poncho, I couldn’t resist. I was going to get it alone originally, but didn’t want to pay shipping so I decided to spring for the whole outfit. I’m really glad I did since the leggings turned out to be my new favorite pair!

Fabletics is just under $50 per outfit credit and comes with a 2- or 3-piece set of athletic wear. Each month, three outfits are selected for you to choose from at the 1 outfit credit price point. You can always get other outfits at their VIP pricing of $50-80 (2- and 3- pieces available) or buy any individual item separately. Outfits are sent monthly unless you choose to skip (which is very easy to do). They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free outfits.

Get your first outfit for half off with my referral link! All fitted Fabletics items are chafe-resistant and feature four-way stretch for comfort and movement.

collage of front and back with and without hood and details of fabletics aventura poncho in charcoal heather

Aventura Poncho in Charcoal Heather

This is such a fun piece to have. I like how it just drapes over your shoulders and provides warmth over any top. The terrycloth fabric makes it nice and warm and the generous hoodie size makes it easy to cover your head completely even with a ponytail. Snap buttons on either side ensure your warms stay in place, or unsnap them for a flowier fit. I like to half unzip the half-zip front, but find that the weight of the hood will often drag the zipper up towards my neck. I wish the front was weighted a little more so I didn’t feel my throat getting covered all the time, but otherwise I love it. The retail value on this is listed as $44.95.

collage of front, back, detail, and hidden pocket of fabletics salar legging in flame orange

Salar Legging in Flame Orange

These leggings were absolutely worth it and the most comfortable pair I own! I was surprised because I wasn’t even going to get it in the first place, thinking it was more of a cloth-like texture based on the pictures. Turns out it’s far more silky smooth (blend of polyester and spandex) and oh so soft. The color is fantastic too! As with all the other leggings, you get a little secret pocket for a key or card. They offer maximum support, for a nice firm fit. Retail value’s listed as $49.95.

collage of top, side, and details of fabletics headband in ultra lemon

Headband in Ultra Lemon

The headband in this outfit was really just an extra item to me. I don’t usually use headbands, except when washing my face. I wanted the color that matched the leggings, but of course they were sold out so I ended up with these, which happen to match the first sports bra I got. It holds well even on my slippery hair and I’ll certainly keep it around for when I do decide to use a headband. Its retail value is listed as $4.95.

I’m pleased with this outfit, though I would have loved to have gotten it at the $50 price point (it cost me close to $70). Still, if I count both top and bottom at $35 a piece, not even factoring in the headband, I think it was a good value. Not great, but good, especially for the unique items I got and how much I’m enjoying them. I even got complimented on my style when I wore the poncho with the leggings last week! Thanks Fabletics for making me appear fashionable. 😉

I’m really excited now because I’ve officially earned enough points to get a free outfit credit! Nothing caught my eye this month, but I’m really looking forward to redeeming that free outfit soon…

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this outfit and wanted to share what I got!]

Blue Apron April 22nd Delivery review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , ,
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There had been quite a dry spell from the last time we ordered one of these meals, so I was ready for another box to come. For awhile I stayed away from Blue Apron because they changed their methods and you no longer get to choose any three of six options for your box. Instead, you indicate preferences: which meats you will eat, or if you’re vegetarian. Then your meals are chosen for you based on those preferences. One week I really wanted to get the box, but I wanted one of the vegetarian dishes and my pre-selected veggie dish was not the one I was trying to select. So… I ended up not getting it.

This time I liked all three meat dishes so I went for the order. The pork buns were delicious, though next time I’d just far less fatty meat. I really liked the pairing with the red cabbage salad there. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the chicken and mushrooms because I usually find chicken to be dry and the mushrooms weren’t ones I’m used to eating. I had no idea there was garlic bread too, which was awesome. I ended up breaking the fish up when I cooked it and the flavors got kind of lost, so that’s probably the only dish I wouldn’t recreate as is.

Blue Apron is just under $60 per box and comes with 3 meals of 2 servings each. That’s $10 per meal serving! Boxes are sent weekly unless you choose to skip (which is very easy to do). After ordering a few times, they will offer free meals you can send to friends (but no referral program).

collage of blue apron 5-spice pork buns with red cabbage, carrot and thai basil salad recipe card

I’m always a fan of their Asian-inspired dishes.

collage of blue apron 5-spice pork buns with red cabbage, carrot and thai basil salad ingredients and meal being cooked

I accidentally swapped the basil and Thai basil (what’s the difference?).

blue apron 5-spice pork buns with red cabbage, carrot and thai basil salad finished product

Oh those fluffy buns… so yum!

collage of blue apron chicken and mixed mushroom forager with toasted parmesan-garlic bread recipe card

I was very pleasantly surprised by this dish!

collage of blue apron chicken and mixed mushroom forager with toasted parmesan-garlic bread ingredients and meal being cooked

I must always cook chicken in flour – it helped so much with the tenderness!

blue apron chicken and mixed mushroom forager with toasted parmesan-garlic bread finished product

So many awesome flavors coming together.

collage of blue apron cod over linguine with fresh peas, meyer lemon and spring herbs recipe card

I can’t say I’ve ever had fish and pasta together.

collage of blue apron cod over linguine with fresh peas, meyer lemon and spring herbs ingredients and meal being cooked

I didn’t know how to cook fish without it falling apart.

blue apron cod over linguine with fresh peas, meyer lemon and spring herbs finished product

Pretty good dish, but some of the flavor got lost in all the water.

Yuzen Summer 2014 edition review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
2

It always seems like I sit on my Yuzen boxes for a long time before I finally get the review out. Don’t know why that keeps happening, so I’m finally getting this done before summer is truly upon us! I filmed the video for this a week and a half ago and it should be showing up on Yuzen’s YouTube channel in a few days. But hey, you get to see what comes in the box here!

Yuzen is $33 per quarter (with boxes sent Feb, May, Aug, and Nov) and comes with around 7 or 8 eco-friendly beauty, skincare, food/snacks, and home products. Boxes are sent quarterly with no option to skip, but you can get one-time gift boxes too. Sometimes there’s a waitlist to get the subscription. They do not offer a referral program.

unboxed summer 2014 yuzen box with contents shown

ShamanutiSeaweed Toner: I’m a huge fan of sprays and mists, so this toner is just fantastic. It has a light scent that is wonderfully relaxing and has a very soothing effect. I like how it’s ocean-inspired with the kelp they use. Some great skincare comes from the ocean! I did accidentally overspray myself at first because one push of this sends out a lot of product. I learned to hold it at a much further distance to get better coverage. Use code yuzenlove by 8/31/14 for 20% off at Shamanuti.

Kerstin FlorianLavender Body Spray: Wow, this was a major surprise when I tried it. I thought it’d just be a normal spray, but what I got was a sheen of ultra-moisturizing amazingness. A gentle rub into the skin and felt soft and smooth. This is fabulous! I love how the spray head allows me to quickly moisturize my skin with a spray and swipe. That’s all it takes to absorb and heal my skin. I’m very impressed. Use code ZEN20 by 9/30/14 for 20% at Kerstin Florian (restrictions apply).

KneippHerbal Bath in Lavender: What a relaxing bath additive. Lavender is the perfect choice for a bath and this bottle of concentrated goodness promises a most excellent bathing experience. Of course I still need to get around to drawing a bath in the first place… I’ll probably end up doing that within the week, since I’ve been so drained and I could use a good soak. Just smelling it in the bottle is helping ease my mind already. Use code Yuzen14 by 12/31/14 for 10% off the full size product at Kneipp.

MyChelle  Ultimate Lash and Brow Serum: I like this brand and I certainly like the idea of increasing my lash length. This is a small tube, but I’m sure it will last quite some time since you barely need any each time. I’ve applied it to my lashes and I hope it works! It doesn’t smell or feel like anything, though it did tingle a bit when it was drying. The consistency is liquidy enough to come on easily and we’ll just have to wait and see for results. Use code YUZEN25 by 2/1/15 for 25% off at MyChelle.

Aromaflagefragrance & insect repellent: Ok, this has got to be the most unique thing I’ve seen! Taking a fragrance (aka perfume) and making it an insect repellent too? What a brilliant way to make something I’d never care for (perfume) into something I’d actually consider! The scent is very special, with a warmth and citrusy notes. When the bugs start coming, I’m totally using this as my insect repellent. I mean, who wants to go out smelling like bug spray, right? Might as well disguise myself as a fine lady with this scent. It smells more down-to-earth than your typical perfume fluff too. 🙂 Use code Yuzen2014 by 7/31/14 for 15% at Aromaflage.

Hugo NaturalsVanilla & Sweet Orange soap: This is a brand and scent I’ve tried, not as a soap, but as a lotion. Funny enough, that was the same box I got my first taste of MyChelle from too. This is a generous full size bar that will last me ages! I’m saving it until my current soap is done so it doesn’t lose any of its scent or go through too many cycles of drying out and getting wet. I like the sweet scent of this bar that’s perfect for cleaning my body and giving me a fresh smell. Use code VSO20 by 8/31/14 for 20% at Hugo Naturals.

Sencha NaturalsPink Dragonfruit mints: How random that just after receiving these, I was in a store and saw them being sold! Was it just that I had never paid attention before? Granted, it was a completely new store I was in at the time. Whatever the case, funny timing. I love the leaf shapes they use and that they incorporate green tea to help with bacteria (and of course give you some antioxidants). This flavor is sweet with a mint that comes later and lingers nicely. Use code YUZEN15 by 7/31/14 for 15% off at Sencha Naturals.

I definitely feel more prepared for the warmer months, what with insect repellent and super healing products for my skin. And hey, I might just get some longer lashes too! What items are you most interested in from this box?

*Disclosure: As a super fan, I was invited to be the Yuzen Ambassador to help them spread the word about their brand. I now receive the boxes for free. I was not compensated otherwise and all opinions are my own, irregardless of my relation to Yuzen. I just happen to think they’re awesome (as does everyone else I’ve heard from). 🙂

Homegrown Collective April 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
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How did the end of the month come up so fast?! Work has really got me off-kilter and I totally didn’t expect this box yesterday. I sure hope I recover enough over the weekend to get one of these projects going. I had no idea that ketchup and mustard were fermented items (though I wonder if the ones with preservatives are still fermented), which I’m kind of fascinated by. I love fermented stuff!!

The Homegrown Collective GREENBOX is $39 per box + $9 shipping (or as discounted as $429 for an entire year, with options in between) and comes with fun and easy projects to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program you can apply to join.

inside of let's get fermented homegrown collective box with the info sheets on the inner lid contents of the homegrown collective april 2014 box with let's get fermented theme the homegrown collective april 2014 fermenting jars info card

Project #1, chipotle ketchup: This is what ketchup is made of?! I’ve been completely clueless this whole time and it never occurred to me that it could be fermented. I’m totally intrigued by this fermentation jar too, which is a funny-looking contraption. I’m not generally a ketchup fan, but chipotle ketchup sounds wonderful and making it myself means I’d totally eat it. It’ll be great to have some around the house to use so we don’t need those packets.

the homegrown collective april 2014 project chipotle ketchup info card the homegrown collective april 2014 products for chiptole ketchup

Project #2, spicy mustard: Well gosh, I learn some much from all this, like how mustard is good for you. I learned to enjoy mustard a couple of years back when I saw my dad always getting it and now I’m a fan too. Panda and I could certainly use some probiotics in our lives, so I’m excited about this and I’ll start with this fermentation process as soon as I figure out how to accomplish this without a blender (or I might just decide to get a blender…). Recipe calls for 4 cloves of garlic, but I only had three left after divvying the other two to the ketchup project, but I have plenty of garlic from my Blue Apron box, so I’ll use that. [Edit: Errr so I totally had a brain fart and thought they meant a head of garlic when they said clove… as I was making the mustard I suddenly realized how preposterous four whole heads of garlic would be for that recipe and it dawned on me that they actually provided way more garlic for future use!!]

the homegrown collective april 2014 project spicy mustard info card the homegrown collective april 2014 products for spicy mustard

This was another month with only two projects. Perhaps this time it was a space issue? Whatever the case, I love the stuff we did get and it’s so cool to learn about condiments I thought I knew. I’ve always wanted to try making my own pickles, kimchi, and other fermented foods. I’ll have to look up some instructions for those too. 🙂 Here’s the info card about fermentation:

the homegrown collective april 2014 fermentation info card

Awaken your inner scientist, crafter, and environmentalist! Get your own fun projects and subscribe to the Homegrown Collective today. It’s totally mind-blowing.

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Petit Vour April 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , ,
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I feel super pampered from this box. It’s oozing luxury though the theme is Boheme Beauty. Perhaps it’s referring to the less mainstream products?

Petit Vour is $15 per box (or as much as $30 for international subscribers) and comes with vegan beauty, skincare, and other personal care products. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free boxes (email contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you if you sign up!).

petit vour april 2014 box info card with boheme beauty theme contents of petit vour april 2014 box with jane scrivner skin elixir, lily lolo pressed mineral eye shadow quad in smoky rose, harvey prince yogini eau de parfum, and kimberly parry sea organics creamy cleanser

Jane Scrivner Skin Elixir – I like the herbal smell to this oil. It makes me feel like I’m healing my skin and it absorbs to make my skin super soft. It’s so weird to put oil on my face though, so I’ll use this sparingly.

Lily Lolo Mineral Eye Shadow Quad – What a nice full size product. It comes in a nice white compact and this Smoky Rose set includes a white, rose pink, brown, and deep chocolate. I’d have fun with this if I use eye shadow, but since I don’t I’ll trade this.

Harvey Prince Yogini eau de parfum – I don’t know anything about perfumes and they generally smell similar to me, so this reminds me other perfumes I’ve smelled. It’s a nice-sized bottle with a roll-on ball, which is the type of applicator I like. However, I don’t wear perfume, so this is another trade item for me.

Kimberly Parry Sea Orga1nics – I can definitely smell the sea influence in this cleanser and it’s nice. I love how this one foams up as you rub it. Feels really gentle and luxurious. Definitely a keeper!

Well, this time there was a little more on the beauty side of things versus skincare/body care so two of the items are types I don’t use. I think it’s great that they included two full size items though. What’s your favorite item in this box?

[This post mentions a referral program. Signing up and emailing contact@petitvour.com to say I referred you helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Julep May 2014: The Fresh Twist Collection review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , ,
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It was a tough choice between my default profile of Boho Glam and the fun bright colors of the Bombshell profile, but ultimately I decided to stick with Boho Glam. Sort of wanted both! Many moons ago, I decided to contribute to the crowdfunding for the Plie Wand that came out this month and I was happy to receive it.

Julep is just under $20 per box and comes with 2 nail polish colors and a beauty product, 3 nail polish colors, or 2 beauty products (depending on your style profile choice). They offer plenty of upgrade and add-on options too. Boxes are sent monthly unless you choose to skip (skips are earned every six months for subscribers Dec 18th, 2013 and later). You also have the option of gifting your box to a friend. They offer a referral program that earns you points towards free boxes.

julep plie wand crowdfunding thank you card

Aww a nice thank you note.

julep referral card, discount offer card, fresh twist info card, and plie wand info card

Some of the info cards.

julep quote card and brilliance glycolic hand scrub info card

Their hand scrub gets a new name.

julep plie wand info card unfolded

Everything you need to know about the Plie Wand usage and maintenance!

julep maven boho glam may 2014 fresh twist collection box contents

May’s Boho Glam Fresh Twist Collection box

julep plie wand nail polishing tool and extra cap and brush

The Plie Wand and extra cap and brush. Works really well!!

I’m really happy with this box and feel like I got a great value even without the bonus polish. I’m really glad to have the extra cap and brush, though I don’t think I really need the brush part since the wand works quite well for me as is. At first I thought those brushes were superfluous, but then I read the card and it turns out they’re shorter than the ones you’d find on a polish. Now I regret not getting the fun dotting and striping tools, so when I get a chance I’ll have to add them to another order. 🙂

Join as a Julep Maven to get polishes and/or beauty products sent to you monthly! Use code FREEBOX or FREEMAVEN to get the first box free (you pay shipping).

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Escape Monthly April: Mexico Box Review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , ,
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Escape Monthly has really gotten good at putting together their boxes. I am always looking forward to what new products I’ll learn about. This was another box heavy on the food items, which is perfectly fine with me. I’m happy to have more snacks and drinks to enjoy!

Escape Monthly is just under $40 per box (with code for 20% off your subscription – see end of post) and comes with a variety of food, home, skincare items themed around a city. Each box comes with a Moon Handbooks guide for that region. Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a lovely recurring referral commission program.

2014-04-21 18.49.402014-04-21 18.45.36 2014-04-21 18.45.57(click to enlarge and read full messaging)

Everything came carefully wrapped in bubble wrap since there were so many glass items this time! They were all well-protected and came in perfect condition. I’ve already tasted about half the items and I can’t stop sniffing the candle. 😉

Here’s what came in the box:

Moon Handbooks guide to Ixtapa & Zihuatanejo – I’ve never heard of these areas of Mexico and I’m totally intrigued. There are so many cool things to explore and I love the contrast of more local flair and culture with the touristy areas for vacationing. I’m glad they didn’t just go for Mexico City or Cancun or something, but chose a more exotic and lesser-known locale to share.

Ayate Agave Fiber Washcloth – The moment you get this wet the first time, it does a fun shrinking act. I was concerned about the holes being so large, but they totally shrink down once wet and make a perfect handcloth for exfoliating your body. I was surprised at how nice it felt – I kind of expected it to be a little scratchy. Love this and I think I might need to stock up on a few.

Mundet Green Apple & Sangria Senorial sodas – The green apple soda seemed safest, so I tried it first. It’s a nice sweet drink just as you’d expect green apple to be. It had a sort of aftertaste/smell that I couldn’t quite place. Overall still a tasty drink. At first glance, I thought I had gotten some sort of wine with the sangria, but it’s non-alcoholic and just happens to be in a wine bottle sort of shape. It’s much sweeter and I don’t think I could finish the entire thing in one sitting.

Fusion Habanero Heat sea salt – This packaging is just too cute. This is the same type of salt as the Hawaiian-inspired one I got back in the Hawaii box and I hope more keep coming because I’d totally love a collection. I must think of some dish I can cook up using this salt. Maybe I’ll just add it to some chicken and see how that tastes.

Pacifica Mexican Cocoa candle – I’ve never had a Pacifica candle before and I’m thrilled. This smells fantastic – rich and chocolatey with a hint of spice! What a totally appropriate scent to have wafting through the house when I want to think of our neighbors to the south. I will enjoy this for a bit before I start burning it. It’s fun to sniff here and there.

Kopali Fruit Organic Mango – I’m not a mango fan so I’ll be giving these to Panda to eat, or coworkers if he’s not interested. I did get this brand back in a Yuzen box nearly two years ago (my first intro to mulberries) and I like it, so I’d be willing to try their other fruits.

Lucas Mango powder, de la Rosa Pulparindo & de la Rosa marzipan peanut candy – Such playful candies! I’m skipping the mango powder due to the flavor, but I had the two de la Rosa products and they really made me think of this Mexican market in my area back in SoCal. I’ve definitely seen them around and now I’ve tried them too. The Pulparindo is an interesting gritty sort of snack with salty and spicy bits. It definitely isn’t something I’m used to but I do like to nibble on it. The marzipan candy isn’t peanutty like Western peanut candy and I appreciate that. This is a crumbly treat I would actually like to have despite not being a huge fan of peanuts.

This box was nice and warm in the flavors and sense it gave off, just like what I think of down in Mexico. The non-edible items are right up my alley and many of the snacks were nice to try. What items stood out to you in this Mexican Escape Monthly box? If you want to sign up, try one of these codes (not sure which ones are still active): YOURESCAPE for 20% off the lifetime of your subscription or GIFTESCAPE for 25% off.

Next month we’re returning stateside to California and I’m really looking forward to what things they can show me right in my own backyard. They’ve already announced one product from Juice Beauty, which is a brand I enjoy using. Looking good!

2014-04-21 18.46.08

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

Treatsie April 2014 review

laelene Posted in reviews, subscriptions,Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
2

[Edit: I’ve learned that there was some confusion and I was actually supposed to get a third brand. I’m getting a premium one sent to me to make up for it! :)]

I was super confused with the box I got this time around because there were only two brands (granted one item was really large) and the card inside listed three. I finally reached out to Treatsie to ask if I was supposed to get all three and it seems that the upgraded boxes had the third item, but those grandfathered in to the non-upgraded version got the card listing all the items without actually receiving all items listed.

Treatsie is $15 per box + $4.95 shipping and comes with artisan candy from 3-4 brands (I am grandfathered in for $15 for 2-3 brands and fewer items). That means about 6 or 7 different flavors of treats (or 4 or 5 for me). Boxes are sent monthly with no option to skip. They offer a referral link program.

treatsie april 2014 box contents with brix bites chocolate bars and grey ghost bakery cookies

Brix Bites Chocolate for Wine in Extra Dark, Smooth Dark, Medium Dark, and Milk Chocolate bars: Even though I don’t drink wine, I can totally enjoy these. They truly are “brix” in that they are a very firm piece of chocolate. If you like a piece that will not just melt in your hand, this is the type for you. I like the hardness of them and even better is the taste. I’ve tried the medium dark and extra dark so far and both are fabulous – great flavors that are super smooth. These are some quality chocolates that anyone would love with or without wine.

Grey Ghost Bakery Lemon Sugar cookies: I was certainly skeptical when I first saw these – they looked too crumbly. But oh my, did they surprise and impress me! They’re actually wonderfully moist (I hate dried out cookies, don’t you?) and those giant grains of sugar along with the chewy bits of lemon hidden in there… wow, fantastic combo in a cookie. I think I need to have these with my tea every day now. Fantastic, and I’m glad the bag of them is a generous portion.

treatsie april 2014 info card

The third brand as you can see was Hot Cakes. I’m not much into peanut butter, so no huge loss there. I’m glad I got the two brands I did!  What do you think of the items in this box?

[This post contains affiliate links. Signing up through them helps support my subscription and I’d be ever so grateful. 🙂 All opinions are my own and I received no compensation for this review. I just purchased this box and wanted to share what I got!]

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